17 Killed by Israeli Soldiers During Land Day Protest in Gaza, Over 1,400 Wounded

This year is the 42nd Anniversary of Palestinian Land Day, when Israel illegally annexed 2,1000 Dunams of Palestinian lands, and issued “Absentee Property Law” which allowed it to confiscate the lands of displaced Palestinians. Since that day in 1976, Palestinians have marked the anniversary by expressing their determination and steadfastness in their struggle for liberation.

On Friday, March 30, massive protests were held in cities across Gaza on Land Day to start a six-week mobilization leading up to al-Nakba Day, May 15, which commemorates the expulsion of more than 750,000 Palestinians from their homeland in 1948 to make way for the state of Israel.

Israel attacked Land Day protests across Palestine. Near Gaza border fences, Israeli forces used live ammunition to kill 17 demonstrators. At least 1,416 Palestinians were wounded in Gaza: 758 were shot by live ammunition, 148 injured by rubber-coated steel bullets, and others were injured by massive amounts of tear gas, concussion grenades and other so-called "non-lethal" weapons.

Palestinian protests and violence by Israelis continue across Palestine. The United States has used its veto power in the United Nations Security Council to block a UN investigation into the Israeli military killings in Gaza. In response to the Israeli attack, a group of Palestinian hackers replaced the main pages of several Israeli websites with pictures taken during the attack on the peaceful Great Return March this past Friday.